Researchers at the University of Surrey and the University of Manchester have launched the AltProt-P eObservatory to track allergic reactions to new types of food.

As we move toward more sustainable food production, new protein sources are becoming more common in our diets. These can include pea protein, lentils, chickpeas, beans, edible insects, seaweed and cultivated meat.

While these help the environment, they may pose new risks for the allergy community. They can trigger reactions in people with existing allergies or even cause people to develop brand-new ones.

The AltProt-P eObservatory (part of the EU “Giant Leaps” project) is collecting data to find out if these proteins are causing real-world reactions. This information will help create a “watch list” to ensure these foods are properly regulated and labelled in the future.

How to get involved

You can help by sharing your experiences and helping researchers understand the safety of these emerging foods.

Who can take part?

• If you are aged 16 years or older.
• Have experienced an adverse reaction to alternative proteins like peas, chickpeas, chia, pumpkin seeds, spirulina, Quorn, seaweed, or insects.

What does participation involve?

You will be asked to complete an anonymous online questionnaire about yourself, your reactions to these new foods, and any existing “classical” food allergies you may have such as allergy to milk, egg and peanuts/treenuts.

The questionnaire can be accessed via the url https://redcap.surrey.ac.uk/surveys/ and by using the code TRPJ4YPRF.

What are the potential benefits of getting involved?

Participation helps improve the understanding of emerging allergies to alternative proteins. This data is vital for finding better ways to protect the public from accidental reactions and ensuring the safety of future food sources.

For further information, visit the Giant Leaps website or contact the team at altprotstudy@surrey.ac.uk